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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Clementine - honest opinions pls

63 replies

cammybear · 26/08/2015 02:49

We absolutely love Clementine (pronounced "Clementeen") for our DD. But now I am starting to have second thoughts - does it verge just on the wrong side of ridiculous? We are mildly hippy MC types (sorry if the categorising offends people - just trying to give people a good picture) who swing between off the wall names and very trad but unusual ones (the most important thing being not boring). I expect she will be 'Clemmie'.

But does it pass the (probably silly) Prime Minister/CEO test? I know Clementine is growing in popularity now really, especially where we live right now, so that is maybe what's putting me off as well (the logic being if we're going to pick a name that doesn't pass the PM test, then at least it shouldn't be too popular? - or am I just overthinking it now?)

I really would like to know people's thoughts.

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WhatsGoingOnEh · 27/08/2015 12:38

Clementine is very sweet. And quite juicy. I imagine she'll be welcome at everyone's table at Christmas.

Sorry! :)

I think it's nice. Definitely not one of the totally and utterly ridiculous names that are used these days. Now, Peach or Banana and we'd have fallen out.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 27/08/2015 12:35

It's lovely. I like Clemmie too though I will admit to absolutely adoring the film "The Gathering Storm". Winston was clearly mad about Clemmie and there is a book of their letters to each other which is adorable no-one will be producing a book of my emails to DH

Minty I wouldn't be that keen on.

Lots of names have songs linked to them. Silly reason to discard a name especially one that is a fairly obscure song these days.

Call your bump Clementine between you and your DH for a week or two. It will feel right or it won't. Some of our favourite names on paper bit the dust that way.

SnozzberryPie · 27/08/2015 12:31

I like it, especially with a short middle name and surname eg

Clementine Mary Smith

I don't like the short versions Clem or clemmy though, which would put me off. I would have assumed you pronounced it clememtYne too, although clementEEN is prettier.

NoMoreRenting · 27/08/2015 12:22

I like it but dh said no because he didn't want to be firever explaining how to pronounce it. Your 'teen' pronunciation is the usual/correct pronunciation as a name. 'Tyne' is a fruit and the end product of Chinese whispers type singing of the song sung in an Austrslian accent.

rubybloom2 · 27/08/2015 11:04

I love this name and would seriously consider it if it wouldn't seriously clash with my husband's surname. However, I'm not such a fan of the shortened Clemmie...

PatrickJaneIsRedJohn · 26/08/2015 20:54

It is a seriously frilly name as others have said.

I also agree that round here Clem means balls, so I wouldn't use it on that basis. Especially as someone just mentioned clammy as a nn Grin I spat out a mouthful of water reading that.

Original poster
cammybear · 26/08/2015 19:41

Thankyou everybody! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I realised that's fine as long as it's not something that people think is too too frilly, as you put it BooptheLoop. I suppose I was just waiting for someone to come up with a really obvious objection that I hadn't thought of but should have done (a lady at work today told us one of the names she is considering for her son, which an Australian friend immediately told us was also a famous brand of condoms at home!)

I am still on the fence, but maybe as you say YeOldeTrout, on the basis I'm not calling her Lucifer or Princess or something, I should stick with what I love. And to think this is just the first decision I have to make as a new parent...

OP posts:
misscupcakes · 26/08/2015 17:15

I quite like the name (can't get the song out of my head though!), but I dislike the nickname - round here, 'clem' is used to refer to body parts like testicles and breasts.

SirChenjin · 26/08/2015 17:13

Love it - despite the song my mum used to sing to me in the 70s Grin . I would say Clementyne though - I think she might spend her life correcting pronunciation.

HellKitty · 26/08/2015 17:08

Fruit.

SmugairleRoin · 26/08/2015 17:07

Hate it. Sorry.

Like others said it's overly frilly and/or a fruit.

beardsrock · 26/08/2015 16:51

Really depends on your background I reckon i.e. BitofFun has it, Clementine was Churchhill's wife. I'm sure she (and your little one too if you choose it) rocked it.

fabuLou · 26/08/2015 16:45

I like it

JanuaryJuniper · 26/08/2015 16:43

Love it!

MedSchoolRat · 26/08/2015 16:07

I think Clammy (hands) too. Or maybe clam chowder (which I dislike).

BlahBlahUsername · 26/08/2015 14:54

Clemmy makes me think 'clammy'. But I suppose you can make unfortunate associations with just about any name.

She will be forever correcting the pronunciation you want to give her though. I've never heard it pronounced 'teen'.

Cookie122 · 26/08/2015 14:26

never liked this name but its each to their own.

Lulabellarama · 26/08/2015 14:13

Love it.
Considering it's the feminine version of one of our best PMs of all time (Clement Attlee) I'd say it sails through the PM test.

Ludways · 26/08/2015 14:11

I don't like it myself, its a song or an orange, but plenty of people don't like my dc's name but I care not one jot.

I would say Clementyne though.

BoopTheLoop · 26/08/2015 14:07

Very very frilly. Not the sort of name I would want as an adult.

Also, horrible nn. Clemmie is really bad.

Northumberlandlass · 26/08/2015 14:06

Clems are bollocks/balls/testicles
Clementine is ok, but shortened to Clem or Clemmie would be awful.

PestoSwimissimos · 26/08/2015 14:04

It just reminds me of satsumas and the like, I'm afraid.

GiraffeHouse · 26/08/2015 13:46

Lovely. I'd pronounce it ClementYne though. Personal choice I guess!

woodhill · 26/08/2015 13:43

huckleberry Hound Rainbow

herring boxes without topses
sandalls for my Clementine

my dad played it on the piano and I sang along (70s)

RainbowFlutterby · 26/08/2015 13:30

Oh my darling, oh my darling,
oh my darling Clementiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine...
you are lost and gone forever,
oh my darling Clementiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.

Nope. Sorry.